Armed man in disguise dumped Molotov cocktail into NW Side school dumpster: prosecutors

A 61-year-old man was arrested close to a Northwest Aspect constitution faculty this week after Chicago cops allegedly noticed him drop a Molotov cocktail into the varsity’s dumpster whereas armed with a gun and sporting a disguise.

Benjamin Scheie, of the 1100 block of West Catalpa Avenue, was arrested at 11:05 a.m. Tuesday exterior Horizon Science Academy, 4434 North Laramie Avenue, in keeping with Chicago police.

In a detention petition, prosecutors stated officers noticed Scheie take a Molotov cocktail from the trunk of his automobile to the varsity car parking zone and drop it right into a dumpster whereas figuring out folks had been current. He allegedly violated his hid carry license by bringing a firearm onto faculty grounds and left two extra weapons unattended in his automobile with the engine working and all of the home windows down.

Based on a CPD report, officers had been watching Scheie as a result of they’d stopped him earlier than, knew he had a hid carry license, and noticed a firearm in his rear waistband. The cops allegedly noticed him toss the Molotov cocktail into the dumpster earlier than working eastbound on Sunnyside Avenue. Whereas fleeing, Scheie eliminated a disguise that included a wig, faux beard, glasses, and a blue button-up shirt, which he hid in a planter, in keeping with CPD.

The dumpster “smelled strongly of gasoline,” in keeping with police, and CPD’s bomb squad went to the scene to safe the Molotov cocktail and Scheie’s automobile, the police report stated.

Choose James Costello ordered him detained, noting the presence of scholars on the faculty. Officers didn’t provide a motive for Schele’s actions.

On Friday, police executed a search warrant at Scheie’s residence in Edgewater. Particulars of what police recovered from the house, if something, weren’t instantly disclosed.

Scheie is charged with tried aggravated arson, two counts of possession of an explosive or incendiary gadget, violation of the hid carry act, and carrying a hid firearm on faculty grounds. He has no earlier legal report in Prepare dinner County.

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